Actor David Schwimmer said in a recent interview that the #MeToo movement created an atmosphere of “terror” for all men. David Schwimmer credits his social activism with having grown up in a strong female household, citing both his mother-a feminist activist and lawyer-and sister as examples of women who have shaped his perspective. Schwimmer, in […]
Murder of Activist and Artist Sparks Protests Against Femicide in Ciudad Juárez
Isabel Cabanillas de la Torre, 26-year-old artist and active feminist, was slain on January 18 in the streets of Juárez, Mexico. A week later protesters gathered in the streets to demand justice for her death and bring new attention to Ciudad Juárez’s femicide epidemic that has been allowed to persist for nearly 30 years. Marching […]
#MeToo Activist Released by Chinese Authorities
After being detained for nearly three months, a Chinese #MeToo activist and journalist, Sophia Huang Xueqin, has been released by authorities in China. Police detained Huang in mid-October of last year in Guangzhou on the vague charges of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble.” Huang has been a prominent figure in China’s emerging #MeToo movement, which […]
Women Lead Protests in India Over Islamophobic Law
Women are leading the charge with protests against India’s new Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which provides a path for citizenship for many “persecuted minorities” – but specifically leaves out Muslims as one of those minorities. People are upset that India, an officially secular nation, is singling out Muslim people and not providing them the same […]
Virginia Becomes the 38th State to Ratify the Equal Rights Amendment
The United States has never been closer to officially creating an Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in the U.S. Constitution. On Tuesday, January 14, a Virginia statehouse committee approved a measure to “bring the amendment to a full vote” which was voted upon by the Virginia House of Delegates and state Senate on Wednesday, January 15. […]
Jane Fonda and Gloria Steinem Arrested at #FireDrillFriday Climate Action
Actress and activist Jane Fonda, along with Gloria Steinem, Ai-jen Poo, and Reverend William Barber II were arrested in Washington D.C. earlier today. Dolores Huerta (founder of United Farm Workers and Feminist Majority Foundation board member) was also in attendance. Fonda was arrested for the fifth time today at her ongoing climate action #FireDrillFriday, which began in […]
Dozens of People Blinded by Chilean Authorities in Violent Response to Protests
More than 140 people have suffered severe eye injuries since protests in Chile began on October 18th. At least 26 people have completely lost vision in one eye, according to the Salvador Hospital ophthalmology unit in Santiago, the nation’s capital, and many others are still being treated. “Last Monday, we got 10 people with these […]
Vermont High School Girls’ Soccer Team Penalized for Equal Pay Protest
A Vermont girls’ high school took off their jerseys during a game on Friday to reveal shirts with the slogan #EqualPay, after scoring their first goal of the night. The referees issued yellow cards in response to the protest, penalizing the team. According to league rules, players are not allowed to remove their jerseys during a […]
25,000 Teachers Strike in Chicago for Increased Resources in Public Schools
Chicago Public School teachers have gone on strike with a list of changes that they wish to see in the city’s education system, including reducing class sizes, tackling the increasing rates of homelessness among students, and hiring more nurses, social workers, and bilingual educators. More than 25,000 teachers and 300,000 students are out of the […]
LGBTQ+ Activist Killed in Uganda
Queer activist Brian Wasswa was killed in his home in Jinja, a city in Eastern Uganda. He had been working with the Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum (HRAPF), a legal aid organization that does outreach work for the LGBTQ+ community. His murder was followed by the Ugandan Minister of Ethics and Integrity announcing that […]
Aisha Khurram Selected as Afghanistan’s 2019 Youth Representative to the United Nations
Aisha Khurram, a law student at Kabul University, has been selected as Afghanistan’s Youth Representative to the United Nations for 2019, joining a group of other young representatives from across the globe seeking to make their voices heard at the world governing body. Khurram — who was selected from among 80 candidates — is tasked […]
Canadian Women Launch a New Project for Afghan Women
Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan (CW4WAfghan.ca) just completed their annual conference in British Columbia. The three-day long conference was packed with inspiring speakers and workshops. During the event, CW4WAfghan launched their new project called Gender Equity in Teacher Training to Improve Girls’ Education in Afghanistan (GETT). This $1.3 million project will train women teachers. […]
Actor Dakota Johnson Launches New Podcast To Share Sexual Assault Stories
Actor Dakota Johnson launched her new podcast, The Left Ear, where she shares sexual assault survivor’s stories. The initiative began when Johnson posted her cell phone number on social media asking followers to leave her voicemails of their sexual assault, harassment, and gender-based inequality stories. Johnson, one year later, has now taken these stories and […]
Protests Erupt in Indonesia Over Bills that Would Ban Extramarital Sex
In cities across Indonesia, protesters have gathered to speak out against a new set of proposed legislation that would ban extramarital sex. This would, in effect, ban any sort of same-sex activity since the country does not recognize same-sex marriage. Additionally, the bill would ban abortion except in cases of rape or incest. These measures […]
At the Emmys, Award Winners Use Their Acceptance Speeches to Highlight Feminist Issues
Last night, The 71st Primetime Emmy Awards was shown on Fox, awarding actors, directors, writers, and others for their work in television over the past year. Throughout the night there were a few historic wins, including Billy Porter for Best Lead Actor in a dramatic category for his work in the show “Pose.” Porter is […]
Pakistani Feminist Activist Escapes to United States after Manhunt by Authorities
Prominent activist Gulalai Ishmail had been on the run from Pakistani authorities for months before reaching the United States by way of Sri Lanka, where Pakistani citizens do not need a visa. Ismail, 33, already had a multi-entry visa to the United States, and was able to flee to her sister’s home in Brooklyn, NY […]
Sandy Hook Promise Releases Another Haunting Video about Gun Violence in Schools
The Sandy Hook Promise, a non-profit organization led by the families of the Sandy Hook primary school, released another heart-wrenching video about gun violence in schools. This new video titled “Back to School Essentials” shows elementary school kids showing the new school supplies they got for the school year in the midst of a shooting. […]
Feminist Protestors in South Africa Demand Change
Anti-violence protestors in South Africa demand government and business response to the rising violence against women, saying the government is issuing empty promises to help women. As protestors are gathered outside parliament in Cape Town, South Africa, the government says changes are coming. President Cyril Ramaphosa has cancelled his trip to the United Nations to […]
The Fight for Women’s Justice in Mexico Continues with Silent March in Capital City
On Sunday, September 8th, hundreds of citizens took to the streets of Mexico City to participate in a silent march to end the ever-present violence against women in Mexico. Forty percent of Mexican women experience sexual violence in their lifetime, according to the United Nations. Investigations into these cases are often careless, skewed in favor […]
“Glitter Revolution” Protests Police-Perpetrated Sexual Violence in Mexico
Originating in Mexico City, the “revolución diamantina”, or the “glitter revolution”, is a new movement started by Mexican women to protest institutionalized sexual violence perpetrated by Mexican polices forces. The movement began in response to an incident in Azcapotzalco on August 3rd, in which a teenage girl was raped by four Mexican police officers. The […]